Patient questioned surgery before death, inquest hears

A grandfather-of-12 from Brighton who died following surgery questioned if his procedure had been "a mistake" as his condition deteriorated, an inquest has heard.

Arthur Brooke Craig died on 26 June 2024 at the Royal Sussex Hospital (RSH) in Brighton where he had been admitted for investigative intestinal surgery earlier that month.

The consultant colorectal surgeon responsible, Marc Lamah, was questioned at Horsham Coroners Court on Wednesday over his choice of treatment for the 77-year-old.

The patient's daughter, Professor Cathy Craig, told the court that he "knew something wasn't right" after being operated upon.

Craig had been admitted to RSH after attending A&E on 28 May 2024 and tests initially found an ulcer, it was heard.

There were plans to discharge him, despite his family's concerns he was still unwell.

A CT scan then showed a large mass, prompting investigative intestinal surgery on 14 June that year.

His daughter told the inquest he was originally reluctant, but later agreed to have the surgery. However, she said she been absent when he signed the consent form.

Craig had asked for his daughter to be involved in his decision-making over surgery, the family's lawyer said during the hearing.

His daughter added that, about a week after the operation, she began thinking something had gone wrong.

"My father said 'I just want to die'," she said.

Giving evidence, Lamah said he told the patient that surgery would involve removing the tumour or bypassing it, and that he had been confident of Craig's capacity in consenting to its removal.

"He had all his options and agreed to them, that is my firm opinion and judgment," he said.

"I was confident I was able to give Mr Craig a good chance of surviving the operation and a fair chance of a cure," Lamah added.

He said if he had just given Craig a stoma and not removed the tumour he would have likely succumbed to it a few weeks later.

Lamah added that he believed the reason for Craig's decline was more likely to be from a perforation to his ulcer than an injury to the small bowel.

Prof Craig told the court her father had a "great sense of humour" and was "a very proud man", who also had six daughters.

He had spent much of his life sheep farming in Ireland before moving to Brighton.

"We all miss him terribly," she said.

The inquest continues.

Additonal reporting by PA Media.

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